How smooth has to be the bass sound?

Long time lurker here. I'm back to play bass, after a good while playing guitar. I have this no-brand jazzbass that I like a lot, I'm really comfortable with it and I like how it sounds.

However, I have noticed that, along with the notes, I make a lot of extra noises when playing, and that can be because of the bass (and for sure because of my technique!). Something like the frets buzzing, the strings touching the lower part of the neck when I hit it hard... I do like to have some of these here and there, but now that I'll be playing in a band again ( rock, pops..) I wonder if these noises are "acceptable", people like them or just show that you are a beginner..

Should I really try to smooth the sound?

Apart from improving my technique, should I consider to buy a new bass? I do know how to intonate and set the action, and I don't think I can set mine up better than how it is now.

Only do foam mute and flats if you are sure that is the tone your new gig would warrant, I know that most of my work it would not. One thing to try is developing the floating thumb technique. Most people anchor their thumb on the pickups etc and that arches the hand out where it is harder to do proper muting with the hand. I had to develop this when I moved to 5 stringers and it really did help out a lot in that regard. You might also want to consider a setup on the instrument for your playing style and attack, it sounds like you might have it a little low action for your playing technique - but that is just a guess from your description.

Cleaning up the technique can always be helpful...but when you hear the frets buzzing, do you also mean that you can hear it coming from the amp as well? many times when in a band context and turning up louder, fret buzzing is less audible. You can also EQ it out a touch by cutting highs or presence (depending on what you are using)

Be aware that making the strings hit the frets near the base of the neck can broadcast out the amp as distortion. This can especially be a problem if you are already using all of your headroom on the amp.

I recommend you go on Youtube and listen to "isolated bass tracks" from your favorite players. I think you will be surprised how "dirty" a lot of these tracks sound with string noise, fret noise, finger noise, buzz, etc. but they sound great in the mix!

That said, of course I think it is good to practice hard to develop a clean technique. It is good to be able to dig in hard and get some noise when you want to, but it is also good to be able to back off and get a clean sound.

I recommend you go on Youtube and listen to "isolated bass tracks" from your favorite players. I think you will be surprised how "dirty" a lot of these tracks sound with string noise, fret noise, finger noise, buzz, etc. but they sound great in the mix!

That said, of course I think it is good to practice hard to develop a clean technique. It is good to be able to dig in hard and get some noise when you want to, but it is also good to be able to back off and get a clean sound.